Wallpaper went out of style for a while in the early 2000s, when everyone got hooked on neutral everything, but now it seems to be rebounding in a big way as people embrace creative and unique decorating styles. Is it worth it to wallpaper your first apartment? Read on below to find out!
Are you allowed to wallpaper your apartment?
Before considering wallpapering your apartment, it’s important to make sure you’re allowed to do so. There may be a clause in your lease that forbids painting or wallpapering the walls, and permanent wallpaper is nearly always forbidden. However, there are some tricks you can use to put up temporary wallpaper that you can remove when you move out.
How to wallpaper your apartment
One great renter-friendly way to install wallpaper is by applying non-pasted wallpaper with liquid starch. First, cut your wallpaper into equal-sized strips, enough to fill the whole wall or room. Then, apply liquid starch to the wall with a paint roller or paintbrush. Loosely attach the wallpaper at the top of the wall and line up the seams between each strip, then use a brayer to smooth out the paper, starting from the middle to push any air bubbles or extra starch out from the sides.
Finally, use a straight edge to crease the paper at the bottom of the wall, and then cut off any excess with an exacto knife. This method looks great, and when you move or want to remove the wallpaper, you can peel it right off with ease! Test it out on a small area of your wall before you do the whole project so that, if it somehow damages the paint job on your wall, you won’t cause any major problems.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper
For another option, you can try using the peel-and-stick wallpaper that’s become common nowadays. This stuff works just like a giant sticker – you pull off the back and stick it where you want it. However, this approach has a few disadvantages compared to the above method.
First of all, peel-and-stick wallpaper is pretty expensive and in many cases costs up to twice as much as traditional wallpaper. Second, it tends to be difficult to apply, and the immediate stickiness means it’s easy to stick it down wrong accidentally and ruin the whole project completely. And finally, while being easier to remove than traditional pasted wallpaper, peel and stick wallpaper is still pretty inconsistent when you’re trying to pull it off.
Yes, it’s worth it!
So what’s the verdict? Yes, it’s worth it! Wallpaper is on-trend right now, and whether you’re doing an accent wall or even a whole room, it’s a great way to spice up your decorating style and add a unique and personal feel to your space. Many apartments won’t let you hang things or put holes in the walls, so removable wallpaper is a perfect way to add a personal touch without losing your security deposit when you eventually move out.
